Coordinated national energy advice system, compiling a variety of energy advice services for consumers undertaking energy saving measures, is under development in Finland. The work is coordinated by Motiva.
Motiva has coordinated a total of 24 pilot projects on energy advisory services for consumers in 2010–2011, commissioned by the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy. The aim of the pilot projects was to amass experiences on the methods employed by various actors of providing energy advisory services directed at consumers in different parts of Finland. The objective is to provide the consumers with high quality and reliable energy advice by relevant actors on local, regional and national level.
The projects piloting energy advisory services reached a total of about 129,000 persons directly. Most of the advice was provided at targeted events, as well as various advisory clinics and points reaching the consumers. It is estimated that a similar number of consumers were reached indirectly as directly, or about 250,000 in all. Based on the experiences gleaned from the projects, it can be concluded that energy advice is of particular interest to those building a new house or renovating an old one.
These experiences are utilised in the development work of a coordinated energy advisory scheme for consumers The Consumer Advice on Energy scheme comprises six component projects: Online, telephone and email advice; Advisory work in the field; Tools, training and quality assurance for the advisers; Communications and marketing; Monitoring and evaluation, and Coordination and networking of the activity.
The principal place for imparting information is the internet portal to be developed, which will be closely linked to other services and internet portals. In addition to internet portal advice is provided by regional advisers, by phone and e-mail as well as at different consumer events closely related to household energy use
At the piloting stage of energy advisory services, an external evaluation was carried out, which provides useful additional information on how to develop the scheme.
Summary reports on the completed pilot projects, evaluation of advisory services and ongoing development work also in English on the project website ttp://www.motiva.fi/en/areas_of_operation/consumer_advice_on_energy_issues/
For further information, please contact Irmeli Mikkonen, tel.+358 424 281 213, e-mail: irmeli.mikkonen@motiva.fi
Teksti: Motiva Oy / Kuluttajien energianeuvonta
Irmeli Mikkonen / Leila Timonen
s-posti: Leila.timonen@motiva.fi, puh. 0424 281 247
